I personally don’t care about this change (name your branches whatever the fuck you want), but I do care about flawed arguments.<p>> The terms we pick for our tools matter, and our current default branch name of master is problematic. The word master is too closely related to the word slave<p>I’ve heard this argument now several times and I’m still confused.<p>There are several definitions for the word master. The one that seems most appropo for source code management is:<p>> an original movie, recording, or document from which copies can be made<p>I don’t see how that one carries any kind of connotation of slavery.<p>I’ve heard a similar line of reasoning for blacklist/whitelist because “our culture has a connotation of black = bad, white = good” ignoring that that connotation isn’t racial and is cross-cultural. Black sheep are undesirable because you can’t dye their wool. The term blackball is referring to a historical voting practice that had nothing to do with race (and likely where blacklist comes from with whitelist naturally coming many years later).<p>Can someone please provide a logically valid argument here based on facts? I’m eager to educate myself.
> The word master is too closely related to the word slave, a practice that goes against B12’s values.<p>Isn't this is a bit of over correction? Check out the synonyms of the word 'master' <a href="https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/master" rel="nofollow">https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/master</a>. It has lot of other meanings which does not mean 'master-slave'.<p>Also by this weird logic, the company mastercard should change their name.
This is racism of low expectations. The notion of a master copy isn’t offensive. Master/slave is. Please assume that black Americans are as intelligent as anyone else and can tell the difference. There’s no need to change the master branch to something else.
From the post:<p>> "..., removing the problematic term master."<p>What about my Master of Science degree? Must that be renamed too?<p>The only thing that is problematic here is the virtue signalling. Please make it stop.
This article would have been significantly better without the pervasive virtue signaling.<p>> this helpful writeup from the IETF<p>This isn't correct. The linked document is a draft <i>submitted</i> to the IETF, and as far as I know, there is 0 actual affiliation with the IETF itself.
If the terms master/slave are so offensive is the actual slavery also offensive to you? If it is, what are you doing to stop the slave trade in Libya?<p>If nothing, then all you're doing is empty virtue signaling.
“A step-by-step guide on how to revert your civilization from color-blind progress-loving one to witch-hunting ideologue-driven bloviating and virtue signaling one”.
Plot twist: in martial arts, black belts are masters and white belts are the dumbasses.<p>We need to change it too, right? There shouldn't exist a martial art master AND the highest levels should be black&white belts.<p>This is getting insane.